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Senators News: February 23rd

–Milan Michalek reached a career high in goals last night (27) and will have over 30 for the first time in his career if he can stay healthy. He isn’t on pace to beat his career high in points (66 in 2006-07), but he’s on track to reach his San Jose production numbers (56). I think the key to his year has been his health and the Sens can only hope he can stay that way for the rest of the season.

–Norm Maciver‘s expansion year records are finally disappearing from the Senator record book. Erik Karlsson passed his assist total last night (46) and is four points behind his points total (63). I think the main factor that’s kept Maciver‘s record safe for so long is the era he earned them–92-93 was one of the last seasons before the dead puck era. When the lockout lifted Wade Redden was on pace to tie it (05-06), but couldn’t stay healthy enough to do it. Since then none of Ottawa’s blueliners have had the gifts to challenge the number until now. To provide a little perspective, last year only one NHL blueliner had more than Maciver‘s totals (Lubomir Visnovsky), and only two in each of the three seasons before that.

–Stu Hackel looks at the history of deadline deals and their impact. He starts with the most well-knownt, the Islanders dealing for Butch Goring from the Kings. Hackel points out that high end players rarely move at the deadline, which is why there is so much excitement around a potential Rick Nash deal. For the most part, I think non-playoff teams are the winners this time of year because of how much contending teams over pay for players.

–The Silver Seven‘s bobbykelly continues his look at Ottawa’s top prospects with Derek Grant. Unlike his Jim O’Brien article (my comments) he’s changed his comparative criteria to the round in which Grant was picked (the fourth) instead of just the next ten picks. This could be a slightly better way of comparing, but given that Grant was the third-last player picked in the round I’m not sure what it establishes. For me, as I said in response to his other article, you want to look at the players Ottawa could have selected through to their next selection (Mark Borowiecki). In that range of 19 picks you have prospects like Gustav Nyqvist (Det), Andrei Loktionov (LA), Kevin Poulin (NYI), Matt Calvert (Clb) and Tomas Kubalik (Clb). For a detailed look at Grant as a prospect you can go here. Bobbykelly compares Grant to Erik Condra, which is a reasonable comparison.

–Wacey Hamilton, Josh Godfrey, and Jack Downing were sent down t0 Elmira yesterday (link). The Jackals won 5-3 last night, Brian Stewart picking up the win and Hamilton and Downing adding assists (Caporusso remains injured). The trio was then returned to Binghamton.